SACRAMENTO, California – Matt Shortall crushed a pair of two-run home runs to lead UT Arlington to a 15-7 Western Athletic Conference win Thursday afternoon at Sacramento State.

The Mavericks (28-25) strengthened their hold on second place in the WAC by improving to 16-9. The Hornets, one of the teams trying to chase down UTA, dropped to 33-21 overall and 14-11 in league play.

The three-game series, which closes out the regular season, resumes Friday with a 5 p.m. CT first pitch at John Smith Field. The final game is Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.

Shortall paced a 14-hit, four-homer onslaught in UT Arlington's first-ever visit to Sacramento State. The junior designated hitter is the first Maverick to homer twice in a game this season. Shortall also increased his team-leading RBI total to 51.

The Mavericks struck first, staking starter Brad Vachon to a 7-0 lead by batting round in the second. Two home runs, two errors, two RBI doubles and a run-scoring single accounted for the scoring.

Greg McCall's towering home run to right-center opened the second. The ball got up in the breeze and easily sailed, hitting one of the flag posts in the process. The Hornets hadn't given up a home run at home since March 24.

Derek Miller's single to right scored McLemore. Shortall smashed his sixth home run of the season to bring Miller around and finish off the second-inning uprising. The Mavericks hadn't had more than one home run in a game this season before knocking two out in the second.

The Hornets scored their first run without getting a hit in the third, as Vachon walked the bases full and hit a batter to put Sacramento State on the board. The first hit allowed by Vachon – a grand slam – ended his afternoon.

UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas turned to reliever Chase Weaver to protect a 7-5 lead. The Mavericks upped their advantage to 8-5 in the fifth on Lawrence's RBI double to left to score Pinchback.

The Hornets responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning off Weaver. Shortall struck again in the sixth, blasting a two-run shot off the parking garage beyond the left-field fence.

Weaver worked 5.1 innings in relief to pick up the win, improving to 4-1. Lawrence matched his career high with four RBI, adding a two-run double in UTA's five-run eighth. Twichell added a two-run shot in the eighth for a 15-6 leading, matching UTA's season high for runs.